Crap. What happened?

[DoubleJ]

Had 2 deer at 30 yards, broadside, perfect conditions.  Wide open field, ankle high grass, no wind, deer feeding.  It was TOO perfect.  Nocked an arrow, had time so I made sure the fletches were lined up on the rest correctly and the broadhead was screwed in tight.  Hooked in the release, drew back, picked the 30 yard pin and focused.  Breath in, slow breath release, trigger squeeze. 

Arrow comes out silently and proceeds to do the best impression of a baseball thrown my Phil Niekro I have ever seen an arrow do.  The damned thing wiggled and wobbled and eventually hit the ground about 4 feet short of the deer.  They bounced away into the brush and I was left to wonder what happened.

I practiced with all 4 arrows in the quiver over and over.  None of them have ever done this.  What happened?

[Eburg fisher]

Did you practice with your broadheads? I was using Muzzy's and had a heck of a time getting them tuned. Switched to a different BH and now I am much more consistent.

[bloodhound]

did you shoot another arrow to make sure it didnt do it again?

[JimmyHoffa]

Did you drop your arm too soon?

[sebek556]

1 grab another arrow check the arrow for any cracks,nics,cuts anything unusual and shoot it see and see how it does. It could of been a cracked arrow I had one that happened with at a 3-d shoot once, checked all arrows before it started then ten targets in whamo off in the woods it goes.
2 long shot here but did you feel any string slap or anything werid when you shot? I have heard of the bow string catching a piece of gear and the arrow keeps going but with out any force.

[DoubleJ]

Did you practice with your broadheads? I was using Muzzy's and had a heck of a time getting them tuned. Switched to a different BH and now I am much more consistent.

Yes.  Broadheads exclusively for practice for the past 2 weeks

[DoubleJ]

did you shoot another arrow to make sure it didnt do it again?

No, deer were gone and I didn't feel like losing an arrow.

[DoubleJ]

Did you drop your arm too soon?

No, left arm was as it always is.  I saw the arrow hit the ground through the sight window.

[DoubleJ]

1 grab another arrow check the arrow for any cracks,nics,cuts anything unusual and shoot it see and see how it does. It could of been a cracked arrow I had one that happened with at a 3-d shoot once, checked all arrows before it started then ten targets in whamo off in the woods it goes.
2 long shot here but did you feel any string slap or anything werid when you shot? I have heard of the bow string catching a piece of gear and the arrow keeps going but with out any force.

Shot felt flawless.  The arrow didn't dive right into the ground as it would if my form was bad or something like that happened.  It was a crazy knuckleball.  The fletching and broadhead took turns flopping left, right, up, and down until it hit the ground.  I checked all arrows for defects before I left the house as I always do.  I swear, it was just a weird, 1 in a million thing.  Just wasn't supposed to be my night I guess. 

I really felt like I was 100% with my shot and I really felt like the equipment was good too.  It had to be something though.

[bobcat]

You're sure the shot was 30 yards? Did you use a rangefinder?

[bobcat]

BTW, was it a buck?

[Todd_ID]

Force field around the deer.......strange stuff happens in the woods.  Must not have been wearing your tinfoil hat?

[runamuk]

Force field around the deer.......strange stuff happens in the woods.  Must not have been wearing your tinfoil hat?

     I was gonna say your arrow choked 

[bloodhound]

well i would shoot another arrow at the house/range before you go out again. your not really gonna know if it was a fluke or not unless you shoot again. and did you find the arrow you shot and inspect it? a fletching could have came loose and that would explain a lot.

[mallard79]

Could your rest have move even the slightest bit??